Some homes are equipped with gas or electric tankless water heates, but most water heaters in the United States are traditional tank type water heaters that heat water utilizing either electricity or gas. A thermostat with a factory preset controls the temperature of the water, however, the temperature can be adjusted as well. There is also a setting that can be used to turn down the temperature while the owner is away on vacation. This prevents the continuous heating of the water in the tank.
The size of the water heater will vary depending upon the number of bathrooms in the home as well as the anticipated load. Often newer homes with 2-3 bathrooms will have a 50-gallon water heater, while homes with the same number of bathrooms will have a 75-gallon tank, if they have a soaking tub. Equally important to the size of the tank is the recovery time of the tank. This is the time that it will take the tank to heat up the water once the existing hot water is used. A smaller tank with a quicker recovery time is preferred in many cases.
Water heaters usually have a long life span, but they do go bad. Often the first sign of trouble is water leaking from the tank. Usually the reason for the leak is either the tank leaking or the water being released via the overflow pipe due to a build up of pressure in the tank. It is critical that a professional plumbing contractor determine the cause of the leak. The contractor can make the repair if it can be repaired or install a new water heater. The repair or replacement is a straightforward job for a qualified plumber and can be accomplished at a very economical price in less than a day.
